NZ Politicians front on the Bible in Schools problem. New Zealands top political parties have entered the debate on Bible in Schools. Some countries like Canada have already banned the practice of Church-run Religious Instruction, but here in NZ, 40% of public schools still lose 1 week each year closing for the purpose of leading children to Jesus. Labour and the Green Party made very positive statements... New Zealand has an inclusive and secular state school system. Students should not be segregated based on religion. Religious instruction should not happen during regular school hours. No child should feel excluded or marginalised based on their or their families values or beliefs. Labour is open to a review of how s78 is being applied. - Chris Hipkins, Labour. The Green Party supports an inclusive education system. When families have to opt out of religious education it risks a child feeling excluded and their values or beliefs undermined. Education about religions is legitimate but not as instruction. A first step should be families who want RI to opt in at state schools, not the other way around. - Catherine Delahunty, Green party. Despite parents complaints of never being consulted about RI, or being mislead by schools asking consent for Values classes instead, NZ Firsts Tracey Martin supports the status quo... The Act requires BOTs to consult with their community every 3 years around the provision of RI - the school is technically closed during this period - we are prepared to have nationwide discussion but not prepared to dictate to communities. - Tracey Martin, NZ First. Lastly Nationals Hekia Parata disagrees that excluding children from Christian-only Religious Instruction is discrimination on the basis of Religious Belief... The Act doesn’t allow this. It allows Boards of Trustees to determine whether to include some, all, or no classes in religious education [sic]. It is for parents to decide to send their child to a school that either offers religious instruction or doesn’t, and whether or not their child attends those classes. - Hekia Parata, National Party. tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/parties-show-support-religious-instruction-review-6060380
Posted on: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 08:16:24 +0000
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